Oil-indicator for automobiles.



J. E. CAMPBELL.

'OIL INDICATOR FOR AUTOMOBILES.

APPLIUATIOH FILED 8EPT.27, 1911.

1,021,824. Patented Apr; 2, 1912. I

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I JOHN ELMER CAMPBELL, OF NEW GASTLE, PENNSYLVANIA.

OIL-INDICATOR FOR AUTOMOBILES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed September 27, 1911.

Serial No. 651,598.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I. JOHN ELMER CAMP- BELL, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at New Castle, in the. county of Lawrence and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Oil-Indicators for Automobiles, of which the following is a specification,reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in oil indicators ortesters and more particularly to an oil indicator or tester forautomobiles, and my object is to provide a device of this characterwhich will readily indicate the amount of oil in the transmission caseof an automobile.

A further object of the invention resides in providing a tube which maybe readily applied to the pet-cock of a transmission case to allow theoil within said case to flow within said tube and indicate the levelthereof, and a still further object of the invent-ion resides inproviding means whereby said tube may be applied to the pet-cock withoutnecessitating the operator crawling below the machine.

A still further object of the invention resides in providing a toolwhich may be readily carried on the machine and which may be applied tothe pet-cock of the transmission case from one side of the machine, andstill another object resides in providing the device with a substantialwrench adapted to engage the valve of the pet-cock to open and close thesame.

Still another object of the invention resides in providing an air ventmechanism in connection with the tube which is operable from theoperation of the. substantial wrench, and a further object resides inproviding a protecting means for the tube.

A still further object of the invention resides in providing a devicewhich is extremely simple, durable andinexpensive in construction.

With these and other objects in view, my invention consists in thenovelfeatures of construction, combination and. arrangement of parts aswill be hereinafter referred to. and more particularly pointed out inthe specification and claims.

vation thereof. Fig. 3is a transverse section as seen on line 3-3,Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of the shaft with the wrenchhead thereon. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section as seen on line 5-5,Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a detail perspective partly in section showing aslightly modified form of my invention. Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sideelevation of the frame showing the slot therein for engaging thepet-cock.

In carrying out my invention, I shall re- .fer to the drawings in whichsimilar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughoutthe several views and in which- .1 indicates a transmission case of anengine on an automobile of a well known make having the pet-cock 2extending therefrom, through which the oil in said case may find anexit, and in order to observe the amount of oil in said case at anytime, I have provided my improved indicating device. My device comprisesfirst, a metallic frame 3 of substantially rectangular design, one endwall of which is omitted and the opposite end wall ofwhich has extendingtherethrough, a shaft or rod l, which rod has that portion thereofextending through the threaded, as shown at 5, and engaging the threadedportion 5 of said rod on the opposite sides of the end wall referred to,are the nuts 6, said nuts contacting lightly against the washers 7 onopposite faces of said end wall, thereby preventing any longitudinalmovement of the shaft with respect to the frame 3. Through the medium ofthese nuts 6, it will be seen that the shaft or rod 4 may be adjustedwith respect to the frame and said rod has the outer end thereofprovided with a handle member or the like 8, while the opposite or innerend thereof is provided with a head 9 which is slotted to form a pair ofjaws or substantial wrench members thereon. This head or wrench member 9on the shaft 4 is adapted to engage the stem or operating portion of thevalve on said pet-cock 2, and in order to engage the device with thepet-cock so as to allow said wrench head or the like to eng'age thepet-cock for operating the same, the free end of one of the side wallsof this frame member 3 is slotted, as shown at 10,

to receive therein thatv portion of the petcock at the junction thereofwith the transmission case. As the shaft 4: may be made Patented Apr. 2,1912. I

frame,

be operated from a short distance therefrom, that is to say, should thepet-cock be applied on the transmission case of an automobile, it willnot be necessary for the operator to crawl under the machine to open andclose the pet-cock.

The side wall of the frame 3 adjacent its free end and immediatelyopposite the slot 10 therein, is provided with a squared opening 11through which extends the squared portion 12 of a short shafting or thelike 13, that portion of said shafting extending beyondthe outside ofsaid side wall being threaded to receive a nut 14, whereby the same maybe held firmly within the frame 3. That portion of the shaft 13adjoining the opposite side of the portion 12 and extending within theframe 3, is tapered, as shown at 15, the free end of said taperedportion, which forms the free end of the shafting, being provided withan integral collar 16, and extending through the longitudinal center ofsaid shaft-ing from the end having the collar formed thereon, is a slotor channel-way 17 which curves in its length and terminates in one sideof the tapered portion 15. WVhen this shafting 13 is properly positionedin the one wall of the frame 3, the terminal of the channelway 17 whichis mounted in the tapered portion 15 thereof, is disposed soas to faceupwardly, and rotatably mounted on this tapered portion 15 and fittingsnugly between the inner face of the side wall of the frame and thecollar 16, is an additional collar or the like 18, said collar havingits inner periphery tapered coincident to the taper of the portion 15 ofthe shaft and also provided with an opening 19 therein which extendscompletely through from the outer to the inner periphery thereof.Securely mounted within the opening 19 in said collar 18, is one end ofa glass tube 20, the connection between said tube and collar being bothair and water-tight, and it will be seen that when the tube is moved toa substantially upright position, as shown in Fig. 2, the opening 19within which the lower end of said tube is mounted, is adapted to register with the termination of the channel 17 in the shaft 13, wherebyany liquid which may flow through said channel 17 may be indicated inthe tube 20, and in order to limit the movement of the collar 18 in onedirection on the shaft 13, I provide a stop pin 21 on the frame 3, whichso limits the movement of said collar 18 as to position the opening 19thereof in direct reg istration with the one end of the channel 17, theposition of which is shown in Fig. 2. The tube mounted within the collar18 may be turned down within the frame 8, and it will be seen that thetool may be readily carried from place to place without breaking saidtube.

As stated, this instrument is adapted to be applied to a petcock so thatthe slot 10 in one side wall thereof engages that portion of thepet-cock from the junction thereof with the transmission case and themouth or outlet of the pet-cock is adapted to be positioned over theterminal of the channel 17 in the outer face of the collar 16, and inorder to allow this mouth of the petcock to readily position itself, theouter face of said collar is provided with a groove or channel-way 22,the wall of which is beveled. Surrounding the opening of thechannel-way17 and mounted in this groove 22, is a rubber Washer 23 toprevent the loss of any oil that may pass from the pet-cock to saidchannel-way, and in order to retain said washer in position, asubstantially semi-circular or horseshoe-designed plate 24 is screwed tothe outer face of said collar 16. The mouthof the pet-cock may thenreadily enter the groove 22 and contact with the washer 23, whereuponthe valve may be opened and the oil allowed to pass through the shaft 13to the tube 20.

It is extremely essential that some covering means be applied to theouter or upper end of the tube 20 so as to prevent the oil from leakingtherefrom when moved to its inoperative position, but it is alsoessential that an air vent be provided to allow the oil to flow properlytherein, when desired, and to this extent, I provide a closure 25 formedof any preferred material for the upper end of said tube which closureis designed somewhat conically and is mounted on one end of an angulararm or rod 26, said arm extending longitudinally along the side of saidtube. The angular portion of this rod is at the upper end thereof towhich is secured the closure 25, and the lower end thereof is bentoutwardly and thence inwardly to form an extension or finger 27 the freeor lower end of said rod being disposed loosely through a keeper 28formed on the movable collar 18. Extending longitudinally of the rod orarm 26, is a coil spring 29, one end of which is connected with theupper angular end of said rod having the closure thereon, and theopposite end of which is engaged with the keeper 28, whereby it will beseen that the normal position of said closure will be in its closedposition over the upper end of the tube 20. From this construction, itwill be seen that the tube may be moved into its operative orinoperative position without affecting the closure and adjunctive partsthereof, whatsoever, but in order to open said closure, the wrench head9 is provided with an angular arm 30, which, whenthe tube is disposed inits upright position, is below the extension or finger 27 of the rod 26,whereby when said shaft 4 is turned to open the pet-cock 2, said arm 30will contact with the extension 27 to raise said arm or rod 26 tocorrespondingly remove the closure 25 from its normal .and closedposition; When the rod 4 is turned in the opposite direction to closethe pet-cock 2, the closure will be returned to its normal positionthrough the medium of the coil spring 29.

In practice, it is a well known fact that many automobilists experiencedifliculty in determining the amount of oil in the transmission case ofthe engine of the machine, which is very often due to the fact that noindicating means is provided, and it becomes necessary for the operatorto crawl beneath the machine to open the pet-cock for this purpose, andas this requires considerable time and labor, to say nothing of theinconvenience thereof, the attempt to determine the conditions is oftenneglected with the result that engines are often ruined. With myimproved device in use, however,

it will be seen that when it is desired to determine the amount of oilin the transmission case, it is only necessary to remove the instrumentor tool from the tool box, raise the tube therein to a vertical positionand apply the same to the pet-cock of the transmission case from oneside of the machine. In applying the device to the petcock, the operatorgrasps the handle 8 and engages that port-ion of the pet-cock formingthe junction thereof with the transmission case in the slot 10 of theframe 3 of the device and by forcing the device inwardly, the mouth ofsaid pet-cock will enter the groove 22 in the outer face of the collar16 and engage tightly against the washer 23 therein. This will positionthe mouth of said pet-cock in registration with the channel 17 of theshaft 13, and in positioning the device in this manner, the slottedwrench head 9 is adapted to engage the stem or operating portion of thevalve of said pet-cock, whereupon a turn of'the rod 4 in the properdirection bythe operator will open the pet-cock to allow any oil withinthe transmission case to pass therethrough into the channel of the shaft13 and into the tube 20. As the shaft 4 is turned to open the pet-cock,the arm 30 in the head of the wrench will engage the extension 27 andforce the same with'the rod 26 upwardly to correspondingly remove theclosure 25 from the upper end of the tube 20 for air venting purposes,and as the oil passes into the tube 20, it will seek its level in thetransmission case. When the operator has observed the amount of oil inthe transmission case through the indicating -means, the rod 4 is turnedto the opposite direction to close the pet-cock, whereupon the closure25 will be automatically returned to its normal position over the upperend of the tube 20 and the device will be readily removed from itsposition 'over the pet-cock by pulling outwardly thereon. WVhen theoperator has completed his test, the tube 20 may be turned to itslowered position between the walls of the lfied form of my inventionwhich is to take the place of the shaft 13 and its adjunctive parts andcomprises a shaft 31 circular in cross section, one end of which isthreaded, as shown at 32, to receive a nut (not shown) after the samehas been applied to a frame (not shown) similar to the frame 3. Saidshaft 31 is provided with an enlarged head 33 adjacent the threadedportion 32 and said head has formed integral therewith at the endthereoffarthest from the threaded portion 32, a collar 34. A channel 35extends through the longitudinal center of the shaft 31 from the endthereof having the collar 34 formed thereon and said channel-ways in itslength and findsa terminal in one side .of the head 32, said channelbeing enlarged atthe last referred to terminal to receive therein, oneend of a tube 36 which is held therein by any desired air andwater-tight connection. The collar 34 has its outer face provided withthe groove and washer, as in the other form to receive therein the mouthof the pet-cock when this device is applied to a frame, such asdescribed in the other form, and when this device is properly applied,the same is, itself, adapted to turn within the frame without having aseparate. portion turned thereon. In the use of a device such as shownin this modification, the closure for the tube may or may not be used,as desired, but in any instance, it will be appreciated that fewer partsare necessary for the completion of substantially the same result.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that I have provided an improvedtester or indicator for determining theamount of oil in the transmissioncase of an automobile, and it will further be seen that this test may bemade without necessitating the operator crawling under the machine forthe purpose of opening the pet-cock. It will still further be seen thatthis device may be readily applied to the pet-cock on the transmissioncase from one side of the automobile without any danger of leakagebetween said pet-cock and indicator. Furthermore, it will be seen thatthe indicator of this device comprises a tube which is movable in theframe of the device and which may be provided with a closureoperablesimultaneously with the operation of the petcock. It will still furtherbe seen that this device is an entirely separate instrument or tool, andin being provided with the framework, as 'described, between the wallsof which the tube may be positioned, a protection is provided for saidtube when in its inoperative position, so that when this tool isdisposed in a tool kit or the like, said tool is not adapted to bereadily broken or otherwise damaged. It will further be seen that sincethis device is removable and an entirely separate part from thepet-cock, the same may be always retained in a cleanly condition to beobserved readily by the operator, thereby preventing any dust, dirt orother extraneous matter from entering the transmission case to causeobvious difliculties. It will still further be seen that the device isextremely simple and durable in construction, and is one which is veryeffective and useful in operation.

What I claim is 1. A device of the class described comprising asupporting member, a hollow member movably mounted therein, and providedwith a movable closure, and an operating instrument also movablymountedin said supporting member adapted to operate the closure on saidhollow member.

2. A device of the class described comprising a supporting member, ahollow member rotatably mounted thereon, a closure therefor normallyheld in its closed position and a manually operable member also carriedon said supporting member adapted to raise said closure from its closedposition when operated.

3. A device of the class described comprising a supporting member, ahollow member rotatably mounted on a horizontalaxis thereon, andprovided with a movable closure and an operating member rotatable onsaid supporting member on an axis at right angles to the axis of saidhollow member and adapted to operate the closure upon its own rotation.

4. In a device of the class described, the combination with a pet-cock;of a frame adapted to be engaged therewith, a tubular member movablymounted in said frame and adapted to be engaged with the free end ofsaid pet-cock when the frame is applied thereto, and means on the frameto open and close said pet-cock.

5. In a device of the class described, the combination with a pet-cock;of a frame adapted to be engaged with portions of said pet-cock, ahollow body member carried on said frame adapted to engage the free endof the pet-cock when the frame is engaged therewith, a tube mounted insaid hollow body member, and means on the frame to open and close saidpet-cock.

6. The combination with a pet-cock; of a frame adapted to be appliedthereto, a hollow body member rotatably mounted in said frame andadapted for engagement with the free end of said pet-cock when the frameis applied thereto, a tube mounted within said body member, means tolimit the movement of said body member, and means on the frame to openand close said pet-cock.

7. In a device of the class described, the combination with a pet-cock;of a frame adapted to be applied thereto, a hollow body member rotatablymounted in said frame, means to limit the movement of said body member,a tube mounted in said body member, a rod extending through said frameand rotatably mounted therein, said rod being provided with a handlemember at its outer end, and a slotted head on the inner end of said rodadapted to engage the pet-cock to open and close the same.

8. In a device of the class described, the combination with a pet-cock;of a frame adapted to be applied thereto, a shaft mounted in said frameand provided with a longitudinal channel, a collar rotatably mounted onsaid shaft and adapted to communicate with said channel, a tube mountedin said collar, and means carried on the frame to open and close thepet-cock.

9. The combination with a pet-cock; of a frame adapted to be appliedthereto, a shaft mounted transversely of the frame, said shaft beingprovided with a longitudinal channel having one terminal thereof in theside of said shaft, a collar rotatably mounted on said shaft adapted forcommunication with said channel, a tube having one end thereof mountedin said collar, means to limit the movement of said collar on the shaft,and means carried on the frame to open and close said pet-cock.

10. The combination with a pet-cock; of a frame adapted to be appliedthereto, a hollow body member in said frame and adapted to engage thepet-cock when the frame is applied thereto, a tube having one endthereof mounted in said body member and extending laterally therefrom, aremovable closure for the free end of said tube, and means carried bythe frame to open and close said pet-cock.

11. The combination with a pet-cock; of a frame adapted to be appliedthereto, a hollow body member in said frame and adapted to engage thepet-cock when the frame is applied thereto, a tube having one endthereof mounted in said body member and extending laterally therefrom, aclosure for the free end of said tube, means to normally retain saidclosure in its effective posit-ion, means carried on the frame to openand close said petcock, and means in connection with the last referredto means for moving the closure to its ineffective position.

12. The combination with a pet-cock; of a frame adapted to be appliedthereto, a hollow body member in said frame and adapted to engage thepet-cock when the frame is applied thereto, a tube having one endthereof mounted in said body member and extending laterally therefrom, aremovable closure for the free end of said tube, spring means tonormally retain said closure in its efiective position, means on theframe to openand close said pet-cock, and additional means in connectionwith the last referred to means to counteract the action of the springmeans to remove said closure from its efi'ective position.

13. In a device of the class described, the combination with a pet-cock,vof a supporting member adapted for application thereto, a hollow memberrotatably mounted thereon and provided with a movable closure and anoperating member for said cock adapted to also operate said closure.

14. In a device of the class described, the combination with a pet-cook,of a supporting member adapted for application thereto, a hollow memberrotatably mounted on the supporting member and provided with a movableclosure, an operating member for said pet-cock and means in connectionwith said operating member for the operation of said closure.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature in the presence oftwo witnesses.

JOHN ELMER CAMPBELL.

Witnesses:

MARJORIE SMITH, J. CLYDE GILFILLAN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G.

